Trump Ditches `How's Your 401(k)?' for `Crime Will Fall!' Slogan

  • President shifted message to border as stock market faltered
  • Promised gains from 2017 tax overhaul haven’t materialized
Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

President Donald Trump has largely dropped “one of the great campaign lines” from his repertoire in recent months as a turbulent stock market made wild swings: “How’s your 401(k) doing?”

Trump’s repeated boasts about surging stocks and bulging retirement balances -- which dominated his speeches in late 2017 -- have faded away. Instead, the president shifted his political messaging to threats on the U.S.-Mexico border as partial government shutdown stretched for 35 days and investors became increasingly worried that trade tensions with China and others will weaken U.S. growth.